The fog is burning off and the sun is shining, must be time for Rosé. Each passing day feels more like spring and winter feels like a thing of the past. Why not celebrate spring 2017 with a glass of cold Mondeuse Rosé? This is a crisp dry Rosé, perfect for happy hour sipping or a glass at lunch. The alcohol level is a legitimate 12.0%, so you won’t be “woozy” after a glass or two.

Mondeuse has its roots in the Savoie, the region of France bordering Switzerland. Mondeuse from the Savoie is a juicy red wine with deep color and peppery flavor. These characteristics make this grape a good choice for Rosé production. Mondeuse ripens late in this cooler growing region. The cool growing season at Bien Nacido delivers grapes with naturally high acid, no need to add acid to this wine. The only additions made to this wine are yeast for fermentation and a small amount of bentonite for fining. The grapes were hand harvested in the cold early morning hours in late September. All the grapes are destemmed and the juice for Rosé is separated immediately after destemming to keep color and tannin extraction to a minimum. The Rosé juice is settled over night to keep the fermentation clean. We don’t want leesy flavors in the Rosé. The juice goes through primary and malo-lactic fermentation in clean neutral barrels. After short barrel aging, four months, the wine is processed and bottled.

The 2016 Mondeuse Rosé has a cheery pink color that is beautiful in the glass. Delicate aromas of ripe wild strawberry and watermelon slowly rise from a cold glass of this Rosé. Complex flinty notes, which are seldom seen in Rosé mix seamlessly with citrus and raspberry flavors. This wine is dry and balanced and will complement a wide variety of meals. Our favorite is spicy mid-eastern fare.

Product Reviews

Ed Davis

(May 20, 2017 at 8:01 PM)

A very nice rose, good fruit with balanced acidity. Paired extremely well with a salad nicoise one warm evening.

John Skerritt

(Jun 16, 2017 at 11:57 AM)

Lovely Rose', well crafted and complete with a mineral bite, beautiful color and the faint, but rising fruit notes as the wine warms in the glass. A very nice bottle from an atypical varietal for Rose'. It would sing with any French country faire, esp in warmer weather.